Steam Might Be Adding a Feature That Could Be a Big Deal for Players

by

Steam, the leading PC gaming platform, is reportedly testing a new feature that will display an estimated framerate while you play games. Steam is well-known for regularly adding helpful tools for gamers, like Steam Input, which lets you use and customize almost any controller, and Steam Workshop, a built-in hub for game modifications. These features demonstrate Steam’s commitment to improving the user experience.

Steam has recently addressed concerns about pricing in different regions, which helps explain why it’s such a widely used platform. However, many gamers still wish Steam would show them an estimated framerate and performance level for each game. This is especially true for Steam Deck users, who have sometimes found that games don’t run as well as they hoped. Fortunately, Steam may be working on a new feature to help with this.

Steam’s Framerate Estimator May Be the Platform’s Next Feature

A Twitter user named LambdaGeneration shared a discovery made by RoadRunner on SteamDB. The discovery is a screenshot of code that includes references to a ‘Framerate Estimator’ and lists PC hardware components like CPUs, GPUs, and RAM. The code also suggests a feature that would allow users to see estimated framerates for games based on the hardware configurations and reported performance of other Steam players.

Fans generally like the new feature, but many are wondering how it will reliably show accurate performance numbers for each game. A lot of players use graphics modifications or programs like ReShade, which change how games look and run, often slowing down framerates. This could cause the feature to give incorrect results unless Steam finds a way to account for these changes. One solution might be for Steam to focus on performance data from players who aren’t using modifications or third-party apps, or to exclude that data altogether. With the Steam Machine launching in 2026, this feature could be especially helpful for players deciding which games to buy.

Evidence suggests Steam is working on a feature to help users optimize game settings. A Steam user participating in the experimental ‘Bleeding Edge’ testing branch shared a screenshot showing Steam requesting permission to anonymously collect data for improving game compatibility and performance. The code also indicates the feature will allow players to estimate framerates based on their chosen app and PC configuration, suggesting it will work with various graphics settings. Given the frequent major updates to SteamOS on the Steam Deck, this feature could arrive on the handheld device relatively soon.

TopMob Quiz

Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)

—

QUESTION 1/1

Results

0

—

More Games

While this news is interesting, Steam hasn’t confirmed it’s actually happening. It’s best to be cautious about unconfirmed reports to avoid getting your hopes up. Given that Steam has been adding more free games lately, a feature like this would be great for helping players decide what to play and how well those games perform.

Read More

2026-04-06 17:34